My name is Claudia and I was born and raised in Lima, Peru. I am an industrial designer with an art background and I learned english as a second language as well. During my time as an english student (2000-2002) I met Erika, a psychologist to be at the time. We became very good friends, and a few weeks ago she told me if I wanted to be involved as a translator in a project called ALEGRIA: Hope Through Art, started by her friend Shay, a professional artist and designer in New York. She explained to me all about it and I was thrilled with the idea. I love kids and I love everything that involves creativity, art and design.
In a city with almost 9 million people, a bunch (a big one) gets lost in the middle. We are used to see kids in the street working as candy vendors, cleaning windowshields, begging for money. We are used to it, and usually we act like we could not care less. Sometimes when you are in the middle of a ladder you always look up, never down. Ambition kills kindness.
When we got to La Sagrada Familia orphanage I could not believe my eyes: It was a big community of over 800 kids. I was amazed. And they came by the entrance to greet us, some with a kiss on the cheek, some with a handshake, some with a hug, but all of them with a big smile on their faces. I felt so much love that day I felt like I didn't deserve it. I felt something (or someone) bigger was huging me, I felt God.
